By Michael P. Walsh
Special to the Voice
Santa and Mrs. Claus accompanied Mayor Dorinda Borer and her special guest, Carrigan Intermediate School fifth grader Shyann Jones, to light the West Haven Green Christmas Tree at the city’s annual holiday kickoff Nov. 30.
After arriving in the West Haven Fire Department’s 1935 Mack pump firetruck, Santa and Mrs. Claus were escorted to a portable stage on the Main Street side of the Green by the West Haven High School cheerleading team to chants of “Here we go, Santa, here we go!” and shouts of glee from hundreds of bundled-up merrymakers.
The stage was bedecked with giant presents that lit up each side.
Before the lighting, WOW Radio personality Brian Smith, the master of ceremonies, thanked and praised Borer’s special guest as the all-ages crowd clapped and cheered.
Borer then lead revelers in a countdown before Santa helped 10-year-old Shyann push down on a gift-wrapped plunger box to set the tree — and the Green — aglow.
The three-hour holiday event opened with the national anthem sung by West Haven’s own Grace Kelly Nowak and followed with performances by the West Haven High School dance team, keyboardist Thomas Ice, the Mulkerin School of Irish Dance and Top Hat Dance Academy. The dance team was directed by Lizz Petrakis, Mulkerin by Kathy Carew and Top Hat by Sharon Minnix.
It featured performances by West Haven’s own Judy Pancoast, a Grammy-nominated recording artist, who led the crowd in sing-alongs of holiday classics, including “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
The event was presented by the city and West Haven United, an organization aimed at bringing the city’s volunteer groups together.
The Yuletide festivities included costumed Christmas characters Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman entertaining families around the downtown park.
Youngsters received stuffed animals from the West Haven Fire Department through a donation from PetSmart of Orange.
Along with hayrides, kids were also treated to rides on the Roaming Railroad.
While the rides were free, people brought nonperishable items for the West Haven Emergency Assistance Task Force, which provides food for residents in need.
The evening of merriment also included five stations on the 5-acre Green, where children decorated ornaments, wrote letters to Santa, and made cards for U.S. troops overseas and those at the West Haven VA Medical Center.
Kids also helped decorate a holiday banner that will hang on the third floor of City Hall.
At each station, volunteers from West Haven United stamped children’s holiday “passports.” Kids had to complete all five activities and return their stamped passports to the organization’s tent for a chance to win the prize basket.
Just steps from Santa’s workshop, boys and girls dropped off wish lists at St. Nick’s official U.S. Postal Service mailbox.
Before their long sleigh ride back to the North Pole, Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted children and posed for photos.
West Haven United sold hot chocolate and snacks.
The city’s official Christmas tree was adorned with light strands with multicolored LED bulbs, and the Green was bedecked with new decorations and lights, including garland and large snowflakes on The John C. Ireland Bandstand and the Victorian lampposts.